Epilogue
ACCOMPLICE
Amir sits across from me at a café, coffee in hand. We’re supposed to be catching up, but his mind seems elsewhere. His hazel eyes glint as he leans forward, a sly grin stretching across his lips.
“I got a call from the FBI today,” he says, swirling the espresso in his cup.
“Really?” I raise an eyebrow, surprised. “What could they possibly want with you?”
“They think a drug ring is associated with my club.” He lets out a dry laugh, shaking his head as if the idea is absurd. “Ridiculous, I know, but they want to send in an undercover agent to figure it out. Apparently, it’s their only,” Amir tosses up air quotes, “‘lead.’”
I sip on my coffee, narrowing my eyes. “What does this have to do with you? Can’t they go through the normal channels?”
“Not exactly,” Amir says. “The membership process for Club Hades is extensive and the waitlist is long. It would take the FBI ages to get one of their agents inside. And they need access now.”
“Can’t they just raid the club?”
Amir snorts. “They won’t find anything in a raid, Saffy. They’re not dealing out of Hades, but they’ve got some sort of connection. A member, maybe?”
“Then give them a list of members. Easy.”
Amir blinks. “And open myself up to thousands of lawsuits? No thank you. Plus, the feds don’t have enough evidence for a search warrant, let alone a subpoena.”
I frown. “So how exactly do they expect you to help them?”
He smirks, leaning back in his chair. “They requested that I expedite the process for one of their agents.”
I arch a brow. “Can you?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of power. I own the clubs, but I don’t have the authority to override the membership protocols.”
The whole statement sounds painfully rehearsed.
“You’re telling me, that you, the founder of Club Hades, can’t get them in?”
“Can’t, won’t—what’s the difference?” he replies, shrugging shamelessly. “But I do have the ability to bring a guest with me. And any guest of mine would have full access to the club.”
I shoot him a knowing glare. “A guest?”
“Mhmm.” Amir’s grin grows wider, mischief flaring in his eyes. “The feds gave me a list of potential agents for the undercover op. Guess who I picked? I’ll give you a hint. She’s tall, hot, and hates me.”
I nearly choke on my coffee, laughing in disbelief. “Gigi? Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.” He smirks, plotting. “This is the only way. And if it happens to mean I get to bring my future wife into my world…” He spreads his hands in a theatrical shrug. “Consider it a bonus.”
Future wife? Please. Amir is a bachelor for life. He’ll lose interest in Gigi as soon as he’s forced to genuinely open up. Something happened to my brother to make him this way, but even I don't know the true catalyst.
I sigh. “You’re delusional if you think this plan will result in anything but bad blood between you two.”
“Nonsense,” he says, waving me off. “Once she sees me in my element, she’ll be begging to take my name.”
I snort. “Yeah, I don’t think she’s the one that’ll be doing the begging.”
“We’ll see, won’t we?” He checks his watch and stands. “I’ve got a meeting with the Cavanaugh board. I’ll see you later, Saf.”
“Good luck,” I mutter as he wiggles his brows. “You’ll need it.”
He winks. “And don’t tell Gigi, alright? I want it to be a surprise.”
“Oh, it’ll be a surprise, alright,” I say, shaking my head as he strides away.
After Amir leaves, I finish my coffee and head to my new office. It’s been four months since I reopened my private practice, and I still get a thrill of excitement every time I step into my own space again. The practice gives me a steady purpose, a sense of peace that I haven’t felt in years.
When I walk into the building, my receptionist, Judy, waves me over.
“Dr. Hadid,” she says with a friendly nod. “Your next patient is waiting for you in the lobby.”
I thank Judy and make my way to the front, where I spot a young woman sitting nervously in the corner. She’s in her late twenties, with traces of bruises still faintly visible around her eyes. She looks up at me, her expression timid.
“Hi,” I say with a warm smile. “I’m Dr. Hadid. Come on in.”
As soon as she steps into my office and sinks into the chair, she falls apart. Tears roll down her cheeks, and she quickly wipes them away, looking at me with broken eyes.
“My ex-husband… Well, soon to be ex-husband… He’s threatening to take my kids,” she says, her voice shaking. “He says he’ll use my juvenile record to prove I’m unfit to keep them.” She chokes back a sob. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t go to the police; his dad’s on the force.”
I lean forward, softening my tone. “Take a deep breath. Let’s start by finding some ways to help you feel grounded.”
I guide her through a few deep breathing exercises, encouraged to find her posture relaxing. We talk through a plan for managing her panic attacks, and I assure her that, with the right support, she has options. The relief on her face tells me everything.
After she leaves, I call Theo, eager to hear his voice. I don’t like it when he travels for work. It gets lonely without him. But his job is important.
So very important.
Theo answers the call on the third ring. “Hello, little wolf.”
“Hi, my love,” I say, straightening the files on my desk. “How’s work?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” he replies. “Any new patients today?”
“One, yes,” I hum. “She just left.”
“Well? How was it?”
“Interesting,” I say thoughtfully. “Difficult to listen to, but interesting.”
He chuckles. “Interesting? Why?”
Not all monsters are vile. Sometimes it takes a monster to kill a monster. It’s a delicate balance. One that keeps the streets from swarming with evil.
“I think I may have found you a new client.”
“Oh, little wolf,” he rasps, the roughness in his voice making me shiver. “You spoil me.”
A knock on my door catches my attention, and I glance up, slightly surprised.
“One second.” I open the door to find Theo standing there, a bouquet of lilies in his hand. My heart skips as I take him in, his usual smirk playing on his lips. “Theo, what’re you doing here?”
“Happy six month anniversary,” he says, holding out the flowers. “I’ve missed you.”
It’s an inside joke. We’ve technically been together longer than six months.
Half a year ago today, Edward Vaughan-Morris was indicted for the Whipper murders.
He pleaded not guilty, but the jury didn’t agree.
Vaughan-Morris was tried and convicted two months ago.
He’s now serving consecutive life sentences in Rikers.
Penny made a roast the day the verdict came in.
She’s been making a lot of roasts lately.
“You’re supposed to be in LA for another two days,” I muse, taking the bouquet and inhaling the sweet scent of fresh lilies. “Did you find the unsub?”
“We did.” His grin sharpens. “He’s dead. Cardiac arrest in the bathtub. Tragic, isn’t it?”
“Devastating,” I breathe out as Theo steps into my office. I close and lock the door behind him.
“So…” He licks his lips. “A new client?”
“Yes,” I say, setting the bouquet down. I face him, my fingers dancing up and down his chiseled chest. I bat my lashes to sweeten him up. “But this one might need to be done pro bono. She’s a single mom, and her ex… Let’s just say he’s a bad, bad man.”
Theo shakes his head, smiling as I caress the faint stubble decorating his jaw. “Another pro bono?”
Some might say that Theo’s a monster, but to me, he’s a dragon. And dragons are protectors. Dragons fight fire with fire. Dragons don’t play by the rules set forth by corrupt kings and queens.
And every dragon needs a handler…a rider. Someone to control the flames and fury.
Someone to say stop.
And someone to say go.
“Just one more,” I whisper, pressing my lips to his. “Come on, baby…please?”
He grunts, and pulls me close, gripping my waist.
“Anything for you, little wolf.”
Dragons are never the heroes in fairytales, but that’s because heroes don’t break the rules. Theo is a dragon. A villain. He makes the rules. And when you make the rules…anything is possible.
Anything.
The End.